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Finny's had been open for a year now. Goldie couldn't have known a year and a half ago how his life would be changed by giving me Fangs old nightclub. For that matter, I didn't either. I spent six months remodeling the nightclub. I got to know some good mugs. Many of them hung out at Leg's. They would come in from time to time to see how the club was doing. After a while, Finny's became their regular hangout. Goldie's club was slowing down and he was getting pretty upset about it. He still had a few mugs that hung with him. There was Bart (a real stinker), Fi and Do (the mutant bartenders), Sledge (a shark that was always getting hammered by someone) and Dan (the bouncer with a cannon on his back). Snake Eyes came to see me just after we opened. He was a pro with dice so I set him up in a back room. We made a lot of clams from that room! This other mug, N. Seal (we called him Harpoon) hired on as a bouncer. Remember me talking about him? He's the one that wears a mask and a tank on his back. Oh, remember the cat that got flattened by the truck? He hired on as the bartender. We called him Splat (guess you know why). Besides the nightclub, it was looking like we were becoming sort of a "family". Dan, the bouncer from Leg's, came in one night acting strange so I says to Harpoon, "keep an eye on him. Something's up, I can't put a fin on it, but something's gonna happen". The club was hopping and harpoon was having a time watching Dan with all the other mugs having a good time and all. I sent this new mug named Chubby to help him out. Chubby was new in town. He was a real mystery so I got in touch with this mug named Donnie who had a string of clubs out west. He lost his head to some dame soon after we talked. Donnie says Chubby is a real bear of a mug, true blue and a great mug to have around. But he does like to eat. So I hired him on. Anyway, Chubby walks up to Dan and says,"You appear to be looking for someone. Can I help"? Yea, maybe you can". Dan says. "I'm looking for Snake Eyes. I heard he was working here". Chubby says, "Yea, he runs a table in the back. I'll take you to him, follow me". They pass Harpoon and Chubby gives him a sign to follow them. As Dan enters the room, he sees Snake Eyes and says, "this is from Goldie"! He turns and fires the cannon. Snake Eyes dives under the table but it doesn't matter, the ceiling falls in on the table and it crushes him. Chubby pushes Dan to the floor and sits on him. Harpoon runs over to check on Snake Eyes. Out in the club, everyone is running for the door. I go to the back to find out what happened. By this time Harpoon realizes Snake Eyes is gone. Chubby has Dan knocked out on the floor (For lack of air) and Harpoon is ready to send him to the bean counter. "Hold on, I want this mug around so I can talk to him. When I know what's going on, you can send him to sleep with the fishes. Now get Snake Eyes outta here and lets get this place fixed up". Dan came to an hour later and fearing Chubby might sit on him again told me his story. "Goldie is ticked beyond belief. He has declared war on anyone from the old gang that associates with you. His club is going under. He says he is the one who put you in this club and he can take you out". I'm ticked now. I says, "I paid my dues! That ratchit-fratchit isn't gonna hurt anyone else in my "family"! He'll pay for what he did to Snake Eyes! He has made the biggest mistake of his life! I will personally send him to sleep with the fishes! You mugs watch the club. I'll be back soon". When I got to Goldie's place, I didn't want him tipped so I used a key he had given me when I worked for him and went in the back door. The club was closed and everyone was at the bar. Everyone except Goldie, he was in his office counting the days' receipts. I went in quick, closed the door. I says to Goldie, "keep your mouth shut. Come out from behind the desk so I can see your hands and legs (all eight of them)! You lose your mind, Goldie? What did you think you where doing sending Dan to take Snake Eyes out"? Goldie just sat there. He had never seen me so ticked off. "It's time for you to go to the Bean Counter." I grabbed hold of that earring and dragged him out back and down to the river. That ratchit-fratchit started kicking and spitting at me. It didn't matter, I sent him to sleep with the fishes that night and that was that. Some of Goldie's mugs were asking questions at Finny's a few days later and were told to "forgetaboutit". Leg's Nightclub burned down shortly after (go figure) and was soon forgotten. My actions brought quite an unexpected reaction. A meeting was called and by unanimous decision, I was named Don (boss) of our "family". As the glasses were raised, they saluted me. "To DON MEANIE"! "Here we are on the eve of the first year". I says. "E's on stage rocking and we got the heads of all the "families" celebrating with us". Who'd a thought. |
